Elite Traveler Summer 2021

etr li at ve eler SUMMER 2021 135 et

NORTH ISLAND

SEYCHELLES

Stepping foot onto North Island’s soft, sandy shores feels like coming home. Could it be the laid-back, unobtrusive yet want-for-nothing service? The intimate seclusion, with only Aldabra giant tortoises for company? Or the jaw-dropping vistas and enchanting sunsets? Actually, it’s a combination of these things that makes the island so magical. The granitic island measures just under 500 acres, so everyone on the island zips around in golf carts or on bicycles, and there are just 11 villas, measuring 4,845 sq ft each. The line between architecture and nature is a blurred one: Mainly natural, local materials were used in each villa’s construction, and local Seychellean craftsmen assembled parts by hand. While all the villas are splendid, Villa 11 (aka Villa North Island) is something else. Measuring over 8,000 sq ft, it is encircled by the takamaka forest and is the last villa on the stretch of Anse d’est Beach. The views from pretty much everywhere are fantastic, and you can soak in the oversized marble tub and listen to the gentle hush of the ocean’s waves. While it’s easy to spend languid days soaking up the sunshine and soothing sounds of nature, there’s plenty to do for those who prefer an active vacation, like a whole host of water-based activities — as you’d expect — including stand-up paddleboarding, scuba diving, kayaking and fishing trips. As North Island is so unspoiled, there is an environmentally conscious philosophy to protect and rehabilitate it. The Environment Centre on the island serves as a base for the resident conservationists and as a rendezvous for volunteers (who are encouraged to plant their own indigenous tree that will be named after them). A number of endangered species have been reintroduced to the island, such as the Eye-White Seychelles bird, which was thought to be extinct but is now thriving. Head out on a tour with a conservationist to learn more about the native flora and fauna, and the efforts to create a ‘Noah’s Ark’ on the island.

From $6,575 per night; Villa North Island from $10,642 per night. Contact info@north-island.com, +248 429 3100, north-island.com

LIZARD ISLAND

AUSTRALIA

The northernmost resort on the Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of North Queensland, Lizard Island is secluded from Australia — and pretty much the rest of the world. The granite island can be reached by a short (and spectacularly scenic) flight from Cairns, and when it comes into view you know you’re in for a treat. The island has a long, varied history: It was known as Dyiigurra to the Dingaal Aboriginal people and considered a sacred place. The name ‘Lizard Island’ was bestowed by Captain Cook when he passed it in 1770, a name given because of — unsurprisingly — the amount of lizards he saw (you’ll still share the island with the monitor lizards). It has been a national park since 1937 and has over 2,400 acres of lush flora and fauna, 24 beaches and gorgeous coral gardens. The famous Cod Hole diving spot is nearby, or you can snorkel right from the beach to experience the depths below. The nearby Ribbon Reefs are famed for having some of the best big-game fishing in the world. Cook’s Look is a popular two-hour hike to a vantage point from which Captain James Hook established a safe route away from the island in 1770. The Lizard Island Photos Imagine Nation Company, Inc., Etched Space

Research Station, a coral reef research facility that has amassed an astounding amount of important work, is also based here. Tours to the station are conducted twice a week for guests. There is also a Lizard Island Nature Calendar, where guests can learn about natural wonders depending on time of year: January is ‘amphibious month,’ June and July are the months when humpback whales can be seen and, in November, the blue waters turn orange as the coral reef begins to spawn. While the island is definitely a dream for active and curious types, there’s plenty of unwinding to be done. Visit the wine cellar filled with Australian and international bottles, curated especially for the island by Australia’s revered critic Jeremy Oliver. There are 40 villas and suites to choose from; the Oceanview Villas are nestled high along a ridge with views overlooking the Coral Sea, but The Villa is the star of the show. The two-bedroom villa’s cliff top has the most hypnotic ocean views. The Villa from $6,299 per night. Contact luxury-aus@delawarenorth.com, +1 844 833 7862, lizardisland.com.au